Portable examining unit with stirrups

ABSTRACT

A rigid panel member having a resiliently padded and covered upper surface is provided. The panel member is preferably approximatley 30 inches in length and one foot in width although a slightly larger panel may be used if desired. One transverse end edge portion of the panel member rotatably supports the bight portion of the U-shaped member for oscillation about its longitudinal axis and with the bight portion extending lengthwise of the end edge portion. The bight portion is of a slightly greater width than the panel member and the U-shaped member includes a pair of parallel legs which project laterally outwardly of one side of the opposite ends of the bight portion at generally 90* relative thereto. The ends of the legs remote from the bight portion terminate in oppositely out turned support arm portions and the remote ends of the support arm portions terminate in right angulated terminal ends which generally parallel the aforementioned legs. Upstanding foot receiving stirrups are removably clip supported from the support arm portions and the panel member may be supported from the top surface of an available table or similar support with the bight portion and at least the adjacent ends of the U-shaped member also resting upon the support. After thus positioned a female patient may be placed upon her back with her buttocks supported on the end of the panel member remote from the U-shaped frame or member, with knees drawn upwardly and her feet positioned within the stirrups, the panel member being positioned upon the associated supportive table with the end of the panel member from which the U-shaped frame is supported spaced slightly from the end of the table. In this manner, a portable examining unit is provided which may be transported to under-developed or remote areas for the purpose of facilitating gynecological or obstetrical examinations.

United States Patent [191 Ezzo [ Sept. 23, 1975 PORTABLE EXAMINING UNIT WITH STIRRUPS [76] Inventor: Philomine A. Ezzo, Henry Hill, Port Henry, N.Y. 12974 [22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 533,540

[52] US. Cl 269/328; 5/327 R; 297/423 [51] Int. Cl. .L A6lG 13/00 [58] Field of Search 269/328; 5/327 R; 297/385,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 784,425 3/1905 Phillips 269/328 1,115,794 11/1914 Eriksen..... 3,104,446 9/1963 Throop 3,817,512 6/1974 Torrey 269/328 Primary ExaminerHarold D. Whitehead Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT of the U-shaped member for oscillation about its longitudinal axis and with the bight portion extending lengthwise of the end edge portion. The bight portion is of a slightly greater width than the panel member and the U-shaped member includes a pair of parallel legs which project laterally outwardly of one side of the opposite ends of the bight portion at generally 90 relative thereto. The ends of the legs remote from the bight portion terminate in oppositely out turned support arm portions and the remote ends of the support arm portions terminate in, right angulated terminal ends which generally parallel the aforementioned legs. Upstanding foot receiving stirrups are removably clip supported from the support arm portions and the panel member may be supported from the top surface of an available table or similar support with the bight portion and at least the adjacent ends of the U-shaped member also resting upon the support. After thus positioned a female patient may be placed upon her back with her buttocks supported on the end of the panel member remote from the U-shaped frame or member, with knees drawn upwardly and her feet positioned within the stirrups, the panel member being positioned upon the associated supportive table with the end of the panel member from which the U-shaped frame is supported spaced slightly from the end of the table. In this manner, a portable examining unit is provided which may be transported to under-developed or remote areas for the purpose of facilitating gynecological or obstetrical examinations.

I 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 3,907,270

Fig.4

1 tltlllmumumlm PORTABLE EXAMINING UNIT WITH STIRRUPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There has been considerable effort in recent past years to encourage women to have more frequent gynecological and obstetrical examinations. While women in reasonably heavily populated areas and affluent areas find medical facilities capable of rendering such examinations with little difficulty and inconvenience, there are many remote and under-developed areas where facilities simply do not exist for carrying out such examinations. Accordingly, in remote and underdeveloped areas physicians must often travel from their homes or offices over considerable distances to their patients homes or established temporary facilities for carrying out gynecological or obstetrical examinations. As a result, physicians performing such examinations in under developed and remote areas must carry substantially all of the equipment used with them and it is substantially impossible for physicians to transport specifically designed examination tables. Accordingly, a need exists for a structure by which a conventional table with similar support may be readily transformed into a table for positioning a patient in a suitable manner to allow gynecological or obstetrical examinations to be profficiently performed.

Previously patented structures including some of the basic components of the instant invention are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 828,007, 784,425, 2,459,729, 2,792,266 and 3,817,512.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The portable examining unit of the instant invention comprises an elongated base panel adapted to be disposed on a suitable table adjacent one end thereof and to be utilized by a female patient during gynecological or obstetrical examinations with the patient lying upon her back and her buttocks resting upon the end of the panel member remote from the adjacent table edge. The weight of the lower torso portion of the patient on the panel serves, at least in part, to maintain the panel or panel member in position on the associated and the end of the panel adjacent the table edge as an endwise outwardly opening U-shaped member supported therefrom with the free ends of the legs of the U-shaped member supported therefrom with the free ends of the U-shaped member terminating in oppositely outwardly directed support arms portions from which stirrup members are supported for the reception of the feet of the patient. By utilizing the portable examination unit in this manner a female patient to be examined may be most advantageously positioned to allow the required examinations to be carried out.

The main object of this invention is to provide an examining unit which may be utilized to readily transform a conventional table end into an examining table for the purpose of carrying out gynecological or obstetrical examinations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an examining unit in accordance with the preceding object and constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily transported in a passenger vehicle and carried from the passenger vehicle into an adjacent building.

Still further, it is also an object of this invention to provide an examining unit in accordance with the preceding objects which may be readily packed by a physician who must travel over reasonably great distance on foot to perform gynecological and obstetrical examinations.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an examining unit which may be produced at a cost to the new physician just starting out in practice which will not present a financial burden to the physician.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a portable examination unit in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction, easy to use, so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end portion of a conventional table having the portable examining unit of the instant invention ope'ratively associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the examining unit in an extended position and with portions of the panel assembly thereof being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the portable examining unit in a collapsed position for storage and transport in a compact state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional legged table including a horizontal tabletop 12 having opposite side longitudinal edges 14 and opposite end transverse edges 15.

The portable examining unit of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 and includes a rectangular panel assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 18. The panel assembly 18 consists of a rectangular plywood panel member 20 whose upper surface is covered by means of a resilient pad 22 secured to the panel member 20 in any convenient manner. The upper surface of the pad 22 and the end edges of the pad 22 and the end edges of the panel member 20 are covered by means of a puncture and tear resistant, heavy gauge plastic cover 24.

A U-shaped frame referred to in general by the reference numeral 26 is disposed at one end of the panel assembly 18 and includes a bight portion 28 and a pair of generally parallel, right angulated legs 30. A pair of clamp-type clip assemblies 32 are secured to the undersurface of the panel member 20 adjacent one end edge thereof by means of fasteners secured downwardly through the panel member 20 beneath the pad 22 and the clamp assemblies 32 project endwise outwardly of the corresponding end of the panel assembly 18 and support the U-shaped frame 26 for oscillation about the longitudinal axis of its bight portion 28, the clamp assemblies 32 frictionally resisting angular displacement of the bight portion 28 relative thereto.

The free ends of the legs 30 remote from the bight portion 28 include integral oppositely outwardly turned and aligned support arm portions 36 and the remote ends of the support arm portions 36 terminate outwardly in right angulated terminal ends 38 which generally parallel the legs 30. The free ends of the terminal ends 38 are capped by resilient caps 40 and the terminal ends 38 and the legs 30 are disposed in the same plane. Also, each of the legs 30 includes a base end portion 42 and a removable end portion 44. The adjacent ends of each base end portion 42 and the corresponding removal end portion 44 are removably coupled together by means of sleeve coupling assembly 46.

A molded plastic stirrup 48 is removably and rotatably supported from each support arm portion 36. Each stirrup 48 is constructed of a shape retentive but somewhat bendable and resilient plastic material and includes two pairs of depending and opposing clamp jaws 50 which are removably snap engaged with the corresponding support arm portions 36. The stirrups 48 may be angularly displaced about the corresponding support arm portions 36 but the frictional engagement of the jaws 50 with the support arm portion 36 frictionally retain the stirrups 48 in adjusted rotated position relative to the support arm portions 36.

As may be seen from FIG. of the drawings, the U- shaped frame 26 may be rotated 180 degrees to a position whereby the overall length of the examination unit is substantially reduced. Thus, the unit 16 may be partially collapsed for compact storage and transport.

In operation, the panel assembly 18 is positioned on the upper surface 12 of the table in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings with the end of the panel assembly 18 from which the frame 26 is supported positioned slightly inwardly of one end edge of the tabletop 12. At least the bight portion 28 and base end portions 42 of the legs 30 contact the upper surface 1-2 for support therefrom and the unit 16 may be positioned with the support arm portions 36 spaced out- "wardly of the adjacent end edge of the tabletop 12.

Then, a female patient may position herself on the tabletop 12 with her buttocks resting upon the end of the panel assembly 18 remote from the frame 26, her knees drawn upwardly and her feet positioned in the stirrups 48 in the manner illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 3

of the drawings. With the patient thus positioned adjacent one end of the table, a physician may readily carry out gynecological or obstetrical examinations while standing or seated at the end of the table 10 from which the unit 16 is supported.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a panel member including long opposite side edges and short opposite end edges, a generally U-shaped frame including a pair of generally parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion extending and secured therebetween, the other pair of ends of said legs including means defining foot rest portions, means pivotally supporting said bight portion from one end edge portion of said panel member for oscillation of said bight portion about an axis extending transversely of said panel member and lengthwise of said bight portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bight portion is of a length greater than the width of said panel member at a point spaced from said axis equal to the spacing between said foot rest portions and said axis.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said foot rest portions include laterally outwardly oppositely directed end portions carried by the ends of said legs remote tant cover sheet secured over said cushion panel. 

1. In combination, a panel member including long opposite side edges and short opposite end edges, a generally U-shaped frame including a pair of generally parallel legs interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion extending and secured therebetween, the other pair of ends of said legs including means defining foot rest portions, means pivotally supporting said bight portion from one end edge portion of said panel member for oscillation of said bight portion about an axis extending transversely of said panel member and lengthwise of said bight portion.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bight portion is of a length greater than the width of said panel member at a point spaced from said axis equal to the spacing between said foot rest portions and said axis.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said foot rest portions include laterally outwardly oppositely directed end portions carried by the ends of said legs remote from said bight portion.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said foot rest portions include stirrup shaped foot stall members removably rotatably supported from said oppositely directed end portions for angular displacement thereabout.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said oppositely directed end portions terminate outwardly in terminal end portions directed toward the center axis of said bight portion.
 6. the combination of claim 1 wherein said panel member is covered on one side face thereof with a resilient cushion panel.
 7. The combination of claim 6 including a wear resistant cover sheet secured over said cushion panel. 